A recycling centre fire which forced the M90 to be closed on Tuesday is thought to have been caused by a waste battery, according to the site’s operator.
Emergency services were called to Perth’s Lower Friarton Road following reports of a blaze at around 3.00am.
Due to the amount of smoke, police officers closed off Friarton Bridge, which passes over the River Tay, in both directions. It has since reopened.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service dispatched four fire appliances and specialist resources to the scene.
Enva, which operates the site, said the blaze was reported in one of the exterior storage bays and that the fire was contained.
An investigation is set to be carried out, however, according to the recycling centre operator, early signs suggest a waste battery caused the reception area for inbound electrical waste to burst into flames.
An Enva spokesperson said: “At around 3 AM this morning, a fire was reported in one of the e-waste recycling centre’s exterior storage bays. Scottish Fire and Rescue are in attendance with the fire under control.
“There are no injuries reported, and the site’s design and fire containment measures worked effectively, ensuring the fire did not spread to the main recycling facility or other buildings.
“The incident occurred in the reception area for inbound electrical waste and was unrelated to the site’s processing infrastructure, which was not operational at the time. The fire will be the subject of an immediate and thorough investigation, although early information indicates that the likely cause was a waste battery.
“Once control of the site is returned to Enva, we will continue to accept e-waste into the facility to support the final stages of commissioning phase ahead of our official opening in the next few weeks.
Stuart Cowper“Enva would like to thank Scottish Fire and Rescue for their support and apologise for any inconvenience caused to our neighbours.”
Nearby residents have been urged to ensure their windows and doors are closed. No one was injured during the incident.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were alerted at 3.04am on Tuesday, January 14, to reports of a fire at a recycling centre on Lower Friarton Road, Perth.
“At its height, Operations Control mobilised four fire appliances and specialist resources to the scene.
“Three fire appliances and specialist resources are still in attendance.
“There are no reported casualties and due to large volumes of smoke, we are asking people to avoid the area and close windows and doors in nearby homes.”
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